From a doctor's diary. When did VD start, doctor?

From a doctor's DIARY "'...When did V.D. start, doctor?" I'm often asked that question. Well, there is a reference to Gonorrhœa in the earliest written records—Moses made laws to try to prevent its spread. The Romans knew about it, and it has certainly been present in Britain for many hundreds of years. As for Syphilis, there is now very little doubt that this form of venereal disease was unknown in Europe until the end of the fifteenth century, although it was common in other parts of the world.